Automatic sprinkler.



.l. KLEIDMANN.

AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER.

APPLICATION men NOV. 24, 1915.

Patented May 9,1916.

JOSEPH KLEIDMANN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGN'OR TO NIAGARA AUTOMATIC FIRE SPRINKLER 00., INC., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER.

Application filed November 24, 1915.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, J osnrrr KLEIDMANN, a subject of the Czar of Russia, and a resident of the city of New York, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Sprinklers, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to sprinklers for automatic fire extinguishing systems.

Many forms of sprinkler heads have been proposed and are known in the art of fire protection; but most of them have generally been found to be defective and unreliable in practice, either because they open prematurely, or because they fail to open promptly when subjected to that degree of temperature that is intended to permit the escape of the fire extinguishing fluid. This defect and uncertainty in operation has generally been due to a too great a strain upon the confining parts or struts which are designed to be affected and released only by the action and influence of a certain predetermined degree oftemperature, or the confining parts or struts were of such small dimensions and so improperly insulated from the pipe system that, although the solder or suitable alloys of metal used for joining the elements of the confining parts would normally melt at the predetermined degree of temperature, the confining parts did not separate, even if special separating means were used, by reason of the fact that heat was conducted promptly by the sprinkler heads, with which these confining parts were in contact, to the pipe system, which is cooled by the fire extinguishing fluid therein.

The main object of the present invention is to obviate these defects, or in other words, first to provide a sprinkler head with means, whereby the premature opening of its valve is prevented, and, second, whereby a certain opening of said valve is insured at a predetermined temperature.

lVith these and other objects in view, which will more fully appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the combination, arrangement and construction of parts hereinafter fully described, pointed out in the appended claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it being understood that many Specification of Letters Patent.

Serial No. 63,266.

changes may be made in the size and proportion of the several parts and details of construction within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

One of the many possible embodiments of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a vertical section, partly in elevation, taken through an automatic sprinkler constructed in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof; Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the same; Fig. 1 is a section taken on line 4t-1 of Fig.1; Fig. 5 is a front elevation of one of the elements of the valve confining strut; Fig. 6 is a plan view thereof; Fig. 7 is a front elevation of another element of the valve confining strut; Fig. 8 is a plan view of the same; Fig. 9 is a front elevation of the two elements shown in Figs. 5 and 7 in their assembled state; Fig. 10 is a section taken on line 10-10 of Fig. 9; Fig. 10 is a similar section showing some of the elements of Fig. 10 on a larger scale; Fig. 11 is a front elevation of a third element of the valve confining strut; Fig. 12 is a top plan view thereof; and Fig. 13 is a section taken on line 1318 of Fig. 12.

In the drawings, the numeral indicates a head, having a water delivery orifice 21. This head is supported in the usual way at the delivery end of the water distributing pipe, and is provided with an upwardly extending yoke 22, upon which is formed, in alinement with the orifice 21, a spraying or deflecting disk 23, for the well known purpose. The orifice 21 is normally closed by a valve 2 1, between the latter and the upper edge of the head 20 being inserted a washer or washers 25 of any suitable material. In the upper face of the valve is centrally formed a recess 26, in registering position. with a recess 27, that is provided in the underface of a lug 28. This lug extends through the yoke, and may be held in fixed position thereon by any suitable means, for instance by a pin 29, that extends through the saidyoke and lug. In these recesses are seated the pointed ends of a valve closing strut, that is composed of two members and 31, each of which is provided with a sidewardly projecting extension 32. In the outer end of one of Patented May 9, 1916.

these extensions is formed a substantially semi-globular recess 33, into which fits a protuberance 34 upon the outer end of the other one of said extensions. The protuberance 34 does not fill completely the recess 33, but leaves a space which is filled up with an easily expansible substance 35, for instance mercury, which is confined therein by a packing material 36, for instance in the form of a ring, and by a fusible material 37, which unites the two members of the strut. This fusible material is applied between the meeting faces of the outer ends of the extensions 32.

The packing material not only serves to confine the expansible substance in the recess mentioned, but also to prevent its coming into contact with the fusible material. Nith the strut cooperate two comparatively thin blades 38, which are made of a heat absorbing material, such as sheet metal. The inner portions 39 of these blades are bent in opposite directions and made springy or 're silient. In the outer end of one of the blades there is formed a depression 40, into which fits a projection 41 in the outer end of the other one of said blades. The inner ends of the blades overlap each other and are inserted between the members of the strut, the combined thickness of the two blades being such that, when their inner ends are flattened out, as clearly shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, they fill entirely the gap between the two members of the strut. From their inner ends these blades extend sidewards and embrace the outer ends of the extensions 32 of the strut members, the outer ends of said blades overlapping each other, as clearly shown in Figs. 4 and 12 of the drawings, and being held together by a fusible material 42. The depression 40 and projection 41 prevent a separation of the outer ends of the blades sideward. In additon to this means, a. portion of one of these blades is bent downward at right angles to the body section thereof, as clearly shown at 43, and a portion of the other one of the blades in the same manner upward, as indicated at 44. The purpose of this arrangement will ap pear hereinafter.

The operation of this device is as follows; The strut members 30 and 31 are assembled as indicated in the drawings to securely hold the valve in position. Before, however, the fusible material is applied between the meeting faces of the extensions 32 thereof, the inner ends of the blades 38 are inserted between the said strut members. The outer ends of these blades are then fastened together by the fusible material 42. It is to be observed that those ends of the strut members which abut against the inner ends of the blades .38 are in contact with the said blades on that side of the longitudinal axis of the apparatus on which the extensions 32 of the strut substance takes place before the melting of the solder, and the force obtained by the expansion thereof breaks the joint between the members 30 and 31 of the strut. At the same time, however, the blades 38 are sub-' stantially, heated owing to their comparatively large exposed surface, which results in a melting ofthe solder, uniting the outer ends of the said blades. This will occur an appreciable time after the oint between the strut members 30 and 31 has been broken,

with the result that the inner ends of the said blades will act as separating means,

tending to move apart the strut members.

It is to be observed that these strut members.

cannot move apart until after the joint between the blades has been severed. The outer ends of the strut members tend to move sideward in a horizontal plane, but, inasmuch as the outer ends of the blades are prevented from moving sideward, theseparation of the strut members cannot take place until after the joint between the outer ends of said blades has been broken. In this manner a premature opening of the joint is prevented by the blades, and on the other hand, a sure operation of the strut members is obtained by the inner ends of said blades, which act, as above described, as separating means. It is to be observed also that, inasmuch as the inner ends of the blades are springy and under pressure, their outer ends will at all times be held under tension, which will under all circumstances insure a separation of their outer ends as soon as the fusible material therebetween has been melted, and, in fact, such melting will be aided by the tension under which, as mentioned, these outer ends are constantly kept.

Attention is called to the fact that, inasmuch as the yoke 22 is circular in cross sec-V tion, and the blades 38 are relatively thin,

being cleaned, white washed or painted, the

strut members withthe blades are apt to be shifted laterally, whereby one or the other one of a set of blades comes into contact with the yoke of the sprinkler head. In the devices heretofore in use, as far as known, special means had to be provided for the purpose of preventing transmission of heat from the strut members to the sprinkler head.

From the foregoing it appears that the blades have a three-fold purpose, to wit: First, they act as separating means for the strut members, second, they constitute means for preventing a premature opening of the joint between the strut members, and, finally, they prevent a contact between the strut members and the yoke of the sprinkler head.

The packing material 36 is used to prevent the expansible substance from coming into contact with the fusible material uniting the strut members. If mercury is used, it is apt to dissolve the fusible material, whereby the joint would be broken even under normal circumstances. To prevent such occurrence, a packing material is employed, either in the form of a ring, as shown in the drawings, or a disk, etc.

hat I claim is 1. The combination with a sprinkler head having a water delivery orifice, of a valve for normally closing said orifice, means for holding said valve in position including a strut made of two members, each of said members comprising a vertically extending portion and a sidewardly projecting extension, said sidewardly projecting extensions being united at their outer ends by a fusible material, an expansible substance within said strut adapted to act upon the joint formed by said fusible material and to break the same upon the rise of temperature, and two blades having their inner overlapping ends disposed between the vertical portions of said strut members and their outer ends held together by a fusible material, the outer ends of said blades embracing the sidewardly projecting extensions of said strut members.

The combination with a sprinkler head having a water delivery orifice, of a valve for normally closing said orifice, means for holding said valve in position including a strut made of two members, each of said members comprising a vertically extending portion and a sidewardly projecting extension, said sidewardly projecting extensions being united at their outer ends by a fusible material, an expansible substance within said strut adapted to act upon the joint formed by said fusible material and to break the same upon the rise of temperature, and two blades having their inner springy overlapping ends disposed between the vertical portions of said strut members and their outer ends held together by a fusible material, the outer ends'of said blades embracing the sidewardly projecting extensions of said strut members.

3. The combination with a having a water delivery orifice, of a valve for normally closing said orifice, means for holding said valve in position including a strut made of two members, each of said members comprising a vertically extending portion and a sidewardly projecting extension, the outer end of one of said extensions being provided with a recess and the outer end of the other one of said extensions with a protuberance seated in said recess, said sidewardly projecting extensions being united at their outer ends by a fusible material, an expansible substance within said recess adapted to act upon the joint formed by said fusible material and to break the same upon the rise of temperature, and means for preventing said expansible substance from coming into contact with said fusible material while said joint is intact.

&. The combination with a sprinkler head having a water delivery orifice, of a valve for normally closing said orifice, means for holding said valve in position including a strut made of two members united by a fusible material, an expansible substance within said strut adapted to act upon the joint formed by said fusible material and to break the same upon the rise of temperature, and means for preventing said expansible substance from coming into contact with said fusible material while said oint is intact.

5. The combination with a sprinkler head having a water delivery orifice, of a valve for normally closing said orifice, means for holding said valve in position including a strut made of two members united by a fusible material, an expansible substance within said strut adapted to act upon the joint formed by said fusible material and to break the same upon the rise of temperature, and a packing for preventing said expansible substance from coming into contact with said fusible material while said joint is intact.

6. The combination with a sprinkler head having a water delivery orifice, of a valve for normally closing said orifice, means for holding said valve in position including a strut made of two members, each of said members comprising a vertically extending portion and a sidewardly projecting extension, the outer end of one of said extensions being provided with a recess and the outer end of the other one of said extensions with a protuberance seated in said recess, said sidewardly projecting extensions being united at their outer ends by a fusible material, an expansible substance within said recess adapted to act upon the joint formed by said fusible material and to break the same upon the rise of temperature, and a sprinkler head packing for preventing said expansible substance from coming into contact with said fusible material while said joint is intact.'

7. The combination with a sprinkler head having a water delivery orifice, of a valve for normally closing said orifice, means for holding said valve in position including a strut made of two members, each of said members comprising a vertically extending portion and a sidewardly projecting extention, the outer end of one of said extensions being provided with a recess and the outer end of the other one of said extensions with a protuberance seated in said recess, said sidewardly projecting extensions being united at their outer ends by a fusible material, an expansible substance within said recess adapted to act upon the joint formed by said fusible material and to break the same upon the rise of temperature, and two blades having their inner overlapping ends disposed between the vertical portions of the said strut members and their outer ends held together by a fusible material, the outer ends of said blades embracing the sidewardly projecting extensions of said strut members.

8. The combination with a sprinkler head having a water delivery orifice, of a valve for normally closing said orifice, means for holding said valve in position'including a strut made of two members, each of said members comprising a vertically extending portion and a sidewardly projecting extension, said sidewardly projecting extensions being united at their outer ends by a fusible material, and means integral with the outer ends of said extensions for preventing a separation thereof in a vertical plane.

9. The combination with a sprinkler head having a water delivery orifice, of a valve for normally closing said orifice, means for holding said valve in position including a strut made of two members, each of said members comprising a vertically extending Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Washington, D. 0.

portion and a sidewardlyprojecting exten-- tion, said sidewardly pro ecting extensions being united at their outer ends by a fusible material, means upon the outer ends of said extensions for preventing a separation thereof in a vertical plane, an expansible substance within said strut adapted to act upon the joint formed by said fusible material and to break the same upon the rise of temperature, and two blades having their inner overlapping ends disposed within the vertical portions of said strut members and their outer ends held together by a fusible material, the outer ends of said blades embracing the sidewardly projecting extensions of said strut members.

10. The combination with a sprinkler head having a water delivery orifice, of a valve for normally closing said orifice, means for holding said valve in position including a strut made of two members, each of said members comprising a vertically extending portion and a sidewardly projecting extension, said sidewardly projecting extensions being united at their outer ends by a fusible material, means upon the outer ends of said extensions for preventing a separation thereof in a vertical plane, an expansible substance within said strut adapted to act upon the joint formed by said fusible material and to break the same upon the rise of temperature, two blades having their inner overlapping ends disposed within the vertical portions of said strut members and their outer ends held together by a fusible material, the outer ends of said blades embracing the sidewardly projecting extensions of said strut members, and means upon the outer ends of said blades for preventing a separation thereof in a horizontal plane. 7

Signed at New York, in the county of New York, and State of New York, this 19th day of Nov., A. D. 1915.

JOSEPH KLEIDMANN.

Commissioner of Patents, 

